Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption of a portable terminal are provided. More particularly, an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption generated in an idle state in order to solve a power consumption problem in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a stale determination unit which is configured independently from an application processor for controlling applications and which wakes up when entering an idle mode to allow the application processor to sleep, and thereafter determines a state of the portable terminal, and if it is determined that the portable terminal escapes from the idle mode, allows the application processor to wake up.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducingpower consumption in a portable terminal. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing powerconsumption generated in an idle state in order to solve a powerconsumption problem in a portable terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, with the rapid development of portable terminals, a mobileterminal providing wireless voice calls and data exchanges is regardedas personal necessity of life. Conventional portable terminals havegenerally been regarded as portable devices providing wireless calls.However, along with technical advances and introduction of the wirelessInternet, portable terminals are now used for many purposes in additionto telephone calls. For example, the portable terminal provides avariety of functions to satisfy users' demands, such as, games, watchinga satellite broadcasting program, remote controlling using near fieldcommunication, capturing images using a built-in digital camera,schedule management, and the like.

For the use of such a portable terminal, a longer time is required touse an additional function than a time of using wireless calls.

The development of batteries is not significant in comparison with therapid development of the portable terminal. However, due to portabilityof the portable terminal, a required battery size is decreased, whichresults in the limitation of battery capacity.

In order to support more functions of the portable terminal with thelimited battery capacity, power consumption of the portable terminal hasto be reduced in addition to the increase of the battery capacity.

Among the functions of the portable terminal, battery consumption isgreat when listening to music, watching videos, operating a camera,emitting backlight, etc. Recently, portable terminals employ varioussensors and functional modules for implementing a plurality ofapplications and functions. Accordingly, there is a problem in thatpower consumption is greater than a case of using the conventionalterminals based on wireless communications.

In order to solve the aforementioned problem, the portable terminalintends to reduce power consumption by using the plurality of sensorsincluded therein.

For example, the portable terminal uses the sensor to determine a timefor using a Radio Frequency (RF) module so as to supply power at thattime. Alternatively, the portable terminal escapes from an idle state ata time of determining a state in which the portable terminal will beused by a user such as an operation of gripping the portable terminal.

The portable terminal can reduce power consumption of the portableterminal. However, in order to determine a state of the portableterminal and a time for supplying power, the portable terminal has toobtain sensing information by periodically allowing a controller (i.e.,an application processor) to wake up from an idle state.

That is, the aforementioned method has a problem in that powerconsumption occurs even in the idle state to perform a process ofobtaining the sensing information to determine the state of the portableterminal and the time for supplying power.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Solution to Problem

An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide an apparatus and method for solving a powerconsumption problem of a portable terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for reducing power consumption generated in an idle state of aportable terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for controlling operations of sensors to determine a state of aportable terminal when a portable terminal remains in an idle state.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for determining a life pattern of a user of a portable terminalwhen the portable terminal remains in an idle state.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forreducing power consumption in a portable terminal is provided. Theapparatus includes a state determination unit which is configuredindependently from an application processor for controlling applicationsand which wakes up when entering an idle mode to allow the applicationprocessor to sleep, and thereafter determines a state of the portableterminal, and if it is determined that the portable terminal escapesfrom the idle mode, allows the application processor to wake up.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofreducing power consumption in a portable terminal is provided. Themethod includes determining a state of the portable terminal afterallowing a state determination unit which is configured independentlyfrom an application processor for controlling applications to wake upwhen entering an idle mode and allowing the application processor tosleep, and if it is determined that the portable terminal escapes fromthe idle mode, allowing the application processor to wake up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a portableterminal for reducing power consumption according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of waking up from an idlestate in order to reduce power consumption in a potable terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a process of performing an operation for reducingpower consumption in a portable terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reducing powerconsumption of a portable terminal according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of obtaining sensinginformation required to determine a state (or a life pattern of a user)of a portable terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of obtaining sensinginformation required to determine a state (or a life pattern of a user)of a portable terminal by a state determination unit according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining a state (ora life pattern of a user) of a portable terminal by an applicationprocessor according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

The present invention described below relates to an apparatus and methodfor reducing power consumption generated in an idle state in order tosolve a power consumption problem in a portable terminal.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a portableterminal for reducing power consumption according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal includes a controller 100, asensor 101, an application processor 102, a state determination unit104, a memory 106, an input unit 108, a display unit 110, and acommunication unit 112. An operation of the application processor 102 ofthe portable terminal may be processed by the controller 100. Theportable terminal may include additional units. Similarly, thefunctionality of two or more of the above units may be integrated into asingle component.

The controller 100 of the portable terminal provides overall control tothe portable terminal. For example, the controller 100 processes andcontrols voice calls and data communications, and in addition to itstypical function, the controller 100 of the present invention providescontrol such that power consumption generated in an idle state isreduced to solve the power consumption problem of the portable terminal.

More particularly, when the portable terminal remains in the idle state,the controller 100 controls the application processor 102 in an wake-upstate to transition to a sleep state, and thereafter controls the statedetermination unit 104 to determine a state of the portable terminal.Accordingly, the state determination unit 104 in the idle state wakes upin order to control the sensor 101 and thus can determine the state ofthe portable terminal.

Further, according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, if the portable terminal remains in a state for entering alow-power mode such as an idle mode, the controller 100 provides controlsuch that power consumption is reduced by ending an operation offunctions except for a minimum function for call reception amongoperations being performed previously.

In addition thereto, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, sensing information can be obtained under the controlof the controller 100. The sensing information is required to determinea state (or a life pattern of a user) of the portable terminal in astate in which the portable terminal enters the low-power mode. Moreparticularly, the controller 100 controls the woken-up applicationprocessor 102 to analyze the life pattern of the user of the portableterminal by using the obtained sensing information (i.e., sensinginformation obtained by the control of the state determination unit104). Herein, examples of the life pattern of the user of the portableterminal include a commuting pattern indicating a route on which theuser of the portable terminal frequently use to commute, a pattern ofusing public transportations, etc.

That is, under the control of the controller 100, the applicationprocessor 102 transitions to the sleep state, and thereafter the statedetermination unit 104 stores sensing information having a greatvariable value. When the application processor 102 enters a wake-upstate afterwards, the life pattern of the user of the portable terminalis determined by using the stored sensing information. Accordingly, byusing the life pattern of the user of the portable terminal, thecontroller 100 can perform an operation of reporting a remaining time upto the arrival of a working place, and when the portable terminal islocated near home, can perform operations corresponding to respectivepatterns such as garage door opening.

The sensor 101 consists of sensors (i.e., an acceleration sensor, a gyrosensor, a terrestrial magnetism sensor, a proximity sensor, an ambientlight sensor, etc.). According to the present invention, the sensor 101obtains sensing information by using the sensors under the control ofthe state determination unit 104.

The application processor 102 is an element for processing an overalloperation of the portable terminal similarly to the controller 100. Whenthe portable terminal remains in the idle state according to the presentinvention, the application processor 102 transitions to the sleep state,and when the state of the portable terminal is not in the idle state(i.e., when the portable terminal is in a standby state), theapplication processor 102 transitions to the wake-up state and controlsan operation of the portable terminal. The operation of the applicationprocessor 102 can be processed by the controller 100.

The state determination unit 104 controls the sensor 101 to obtain thesensing information for determining the state of the portable terminal,and determines the state of the portable terminal by using the sensinginformation obtained by the sensor 101.

In this case, the state determination unit 104 wakes up at a time whenthe state of the portable terminal transitions to the idle state andthus allows the application processor 102 remaining in the wake-up stateto the sleep state, and thereafter controls the sensor 101. When it isdetermined that the portable terminal escapes from the idle mode byusing the sensing information obtained by the sensor 101, the statedetermination unit 104 turns off the operation of the sensor 101 toreduce power consumption, and thereafter allows the applicationprocessor 102 remaining in the sleep state to wake up.

Further, the state determination unit 104 is an element implementedseparately from the application processor 102, and can be constructedwith a cheap micro computer and can determine the state of the portableterminal irrespective of the operation of the application processor 102.According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thestate determination unit 104 includes an internal memory to store thesensing information required to determine the state of the portableterminal.

Accordingly, the state determination unit 104 can determine and storethe sensing information that can be used to analyze the life pattern ofthe user of the portable terminal.

The memory 106 of the portable terminal includes a Read Only Memory(ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash ROM, and the like. The ROMstores a microcode of a program, by which the controller 100, theapplication processor 102, and the state determination unit 104 areprocessed and controlled, and a variety of reference data.

The RAM is a working memory of the controller 100 and stores temporarydata that is generated while programs are performed. The flash ROMstores a variety of rewritable data, such as phonebook entries, outgoingmessages, incoming messages, and a variety of rewritable data such asinformation of the touch input point of the user.

The input unit 108 includes a plurality of function keys such as numeralkey buttons of ‘0’ to ‘9’, a menu button, a cancel button, an OK button,a talk button, an end button, an Internet access button, a navigationkey button, and a character input key, and the like. Key input data,which is input when the user presses these keys, is provided to thecontroller 100. These keys are merely examples of keys which may make upthe input unit 108; the input unit may include additional or differentkeys, or different input mechanisms through which the user suppliesinput to the portable terminal.

The display unit 110 displays information such as state information,which is generated while the portable terminal operates, limited numericcharacters, large volumes of moving and still pictures, and the like.The display unit 110 may be a color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), anActive Mode Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED), and the like. Thedisplay unit 110 may include a touch input device as an input devicewhen using a touch input type portable terminal.

The communication unit 112 transmits and receives a Radio Frequency (RF)signal of data that is input and output through an antenna (notillustrated). For example, in a transmitting process, data to betransmitted is subject to a channel-coding process and a spreadingprocess, and then the data is transformed to an RF signal. In areceiving process, the RF signal is received and transformed to abase-band signal, and the base-band signal is subject to a de-spreadingprocess and a channel-decoding process, thereby restoring the data.

Although the functions of the application processor 102 can be performedby the controller 100 of the portable terminal, these elements areseparately constructed in the present invention for exemplary purposesonly. Thus, those ordinary skilled in the art can understand thatvarious modifications can be made within the scope of the presentinvention. For example, these elements may be constructed such thattheir functions are processed by the controller 100.

An apparatus for reducing power consumption generated in an idle statein order to solve a power consumption problem in a portable terminal hasbeen described above. Hereinafter, a method of reducing powerconsumption of the portable terminal by reducing power consumptiongenerated in the idle state will be described by using the apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of waking up from an idlestate in order to reduce power consumption in a potable terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the portable terminal determines whether a state ofthe portable terminal is a state for allowing the state determinationunit 104 to wake up in step 201. Herein, the state for allowing thestate determination unit 104 to wake up implies a state in which thestate of the controller 100 or the application processor 102 of theportable terminal transitions to a sleep state, which implies a casewhere the portable terminal transitions to an idle state so that thestate determination unit 104 transitions from the sleep state to awake-up state.

If it is determined in step 201 that the state of the portable terminalis the state for allowing the state determination unit 104 to wake up,proceeding to step 203, the portable terminal allows the statedetermination unit 104 to wake up. Herein, the state determination unit104 is an element for controlling an operation of a sensor included inthe portable terminal, and can be constructed with a cheap microcomputer independent from the controller 100 of the portable terminal sothat the portable terminal can operate in the idle state.

Thereafter, the portable terminal operates the sensor 101 in step 205,and obtains sensing information from the sensor 101 in step 207. Thesensor 101 may include a plurality of sensors, and can operate under thecontrol of the state determination unit 104.

In step 209, the portable terminal performs a process of determining thestate of the portable terminal by using the sensing information receivedfrom the sensor 101. In this case, this process is performed todetermine whether the portable terminal remains in the idle state orescapes from the idle state.

If the determination result of step 209 shows that the state of theportable terminal corresponds to a state of allowing the applicationprocessor 102 to wake up (i.e., in a state of being escaped from theidle mode), proceeding to step 211, the portable terminal requests thewake up of the application processor 102.

In step 213, the portable terminal turns off the operation of the sensorbeing operated. In step 215, the portable terminal changes the statedetermination unit 104 from the wake-up state to the sleep state.

This is to reduce power consumption generated when the applicationprocessor 102 wakes up periodically in the conventional portableterminal to determine the state of the portable terminal. According tothe present invention, the portable terminal separately uses the statedetermination unit 104 such as a cheap micro computer which uses lowpower in the idle state, so as to obtain sensing information fordetermining the state of the portable terminal.

Otherwise, if the determination result of step 209 shows that the stateof the portable terminal is not the state of waking up the applicationprocessor 102 (i.e., when it is determined that the portable terminalremains in the idle state), proceeding to step 217, the portableterminal determines whether a period of the state determination unit 104is a sleep period. Herein, the portable terminal allows the statedetermination unit 104 to periodically transition between the wake-upstate and the sleep state with an interval of a specific period even inthe idle state so as to reduce power consumption generated by theoperation of the state determination unit 104.

If it is determined in step 217 that the period of the statedetermination unit 104 is a wake-up period, step 207 is repeated.

Otherwise, if it is determined in step 217 that the period of the statedetermination unit 104 is the sleep period, proceeding to step 213, theportable terminal turns off the operation of the sensor currently beingoperating.

This is to effectively avoid power consumption by allowing the statedetermination unit 104 to operate alternately between the wake-up stateand the sleep state with a specific period, instead of allowing thestate determination unit 104 to persistently operate in the idle state.

The aforementioned operation can be persistently performed while theportable terminal operates, so that the application processor 102 canwake up or sleep according to the state of the portable terminal.

Accordingly, if it is determine in step 201 that the state of theportable terminal is not in the state of allowing the statedetermination unit 104 to wake up, proceeding to step 219, the portableterminal allows the application processor 102 to wake up, proceeding tostep 221, the portable terminal determines whether the portable terminalis powered on.

If it is determined in step 221 that the portable terminal is notpowered on, returning to step 201, the subsequent steps are repeated.

Otherwise, if it is determined in step 221 that the portable terminal ispowered off, the procedure of FIG. 2 ends.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process of performing an operation for reducingpower consumption in a portable terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the portable terminal includes a statedetermination unit 303 in addition to an application processor 301 fordetermining a state of the portable terminal in order to reduce powerconsumption when performing a process of allowing the portable terminalto wake up in an idle state.

When in the idle state, the portable terminal allows only the statedetermination unit 303 to determine the state of the portable terminal.

More specifically, when the application processor 301 remains in awake-up state 312, the portable terminal switches a state of the statedetermination unit 303 to a sleep state 320, and when the applicationprocessor 301 is switched to a sleep state 314 in a specific time (orperiod) 310, the portable terminal switches the state of the statedetermination unit 303 in the sleep state 320 into a wake-up state 322so that the state of the portable terminal is determined by using lowpower.

In this case, the state determination unit 303 switched to the wake-upstate periodically transitions between the wake-up state and the sleepstate while the application processor 301 remains in the sleep state314, so as to reduce power consumption generated by the operation of thestate determination unit 303. The state determination unit 303 in thewake-up state 322 obtains sensing information by allowing operations ofsensors, and thereafter determines the state of the portable terminal.

On the contrary, when the state determination unit 303 in the wake-upstate 322 transitions to the sleep state, power consumption of theportable terminal can be reduced by turning off operations of sensorscurrently being operating.

In addition thereto, the state determination unit 303 can allow theapplication processor 301 to transition to a wake up state 318 at a time316 in which the portable terminal escapes from the idle state by usingsensing information obtained by the sensors currently being operating,and thereafter can allow the portable terminal to transitions to a sleepstate 324.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reducing powerconsumption of a portable terminal according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the portable terminal gathers sensing informationfor recognizing a state of the portable terminal in step 401, and thenproceeding to step 403, analyzes the sensing information gathered instep 401 in order to recognize the state of the portable terminal.Thereafter, proceeding to step 405, the portable terminal determineswhether it is a state in which the portable terminal enters a low-powermode. Herein, the state of entering the low-power mode is a state inwhich power consumption can be reduced by limiting unnecessary powerusage since the portable terminal does not actually operate. An exampleof this state includes a state in which the portable terminal is locatedin a pocket of a user, a state in which the portable terminal is turnedover, a state in which the portable terminal does not operate for aspecific time period, and a state in which the portable terminal entersin the idle mode, etc.

If it is determined in step 405 that the state of the portable terminalis not the state of entering to the low-power mode, for example, if theuser of the portable terminal persistently operates the portableterminal, step 401 is repeated.

Otherwise, if it is determined in step 405 that the state of theportable terminal is the state of entering to the low-power mode,proceeding to step 407, the portable terminal recognizes a function ofgenerating power consumption among functions being operated in theportable terminal. Thereafter, proceeding to step 409, the portableterminal ends the function of generating power consumption to reducepower consumption generated in the portable terminal.

In this case, the portable terminal can end functions sequentiallystarting from a function of which power consumption is most severe, orcan end the functions except for a minimum function for call reception.

For example, when the portable terminal enters the idle mode, theportable terminal can end functions being operated, such as, a musicplayback program, a schedule manager program, a screen illumination,etc., in order to reduce power consumption.

Thereafter, the procedure of FIG. 4 ends.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of obtaining sensinginformation required to determine a state (or a life pattern of a user)of a portable terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the portable terminal allows the statedetermination unit 104 to wake up in step 501, and then proceeding tostep 503, allows the application processor 102 to enter a sleep mode. Assuch, a situation where the state determination unit 104 wakes up andthe application processor 102 enters the sleep mode implies a situationwhere the portable terminal transitions to an idle state.

In step 505, the portable terminal allows the state determination unit104 in the wake-up state to obtain sensing information by operating thesensor 101. In step 507, the portable terminal allows the statedetermination unit 104 to analyze the obtained sensing information.

Herein, the portable terminal allows the state determination unit 104 toanalyze a change in the sensing information in order to determine thesensing information that changes in a range of great values during aspecific time period in the obtained sensing information. The sensinginformation that changes in the range of great values as described abovecan be used to determine the state (i.e., the life pattern of the user)of the portable terminal.

In step 509, the portable terminal allows the state determination unit104 to determine a result of an analysis process performed in step 507.

If it is determined in step 509 that there is sensing information thatcan be used to determine the state of the portable terminal, proceedingto step 511, the portable terminal allows the state determination unit104 to store the sensing information that can be used to determine thestate of the portable terminal. In this case, the state determinationunit 104 can store the sensing information in an internal memory of thestate determination unit 104 or the memory 106 of the portable terminal.If the state determination unit 104 stores the sensing information inthe internal memory, the stored sensing information can be provided tothe application processor 102 by using a predefined protocol (e.g.,UART, I2C, memory interface, etc.) before the state determination unit104 enters the sleep mode.

In step 513, the portable terminal allows the state determination unit104 to determine the state of the portable terminal. In step 515, theportable terminal allows the state determination unit 104 to determinethe result of step 513. In this case, the state determination unit 104can determine the state of the portable terminal by determiningoccurrence of a situation where the application processor 102 wakes up.

If it is determined in step 515 that the situation where the applicationprocessor 102 wakes up does not occur, the portable terminal allows thestate determination unit 104 to re-perform step 513.

Otherwise, if it is determined in step 515 that the situation where theapplication processor 102 wakes up does not occur, proceeding to step517, the portable terminal allows the application processor 102 to wakeup. In step 519, the portable terminal allows the woken-up applicationprocessor 102 to store sensing information required to recognize thestate of the portable terminal in the memory, and thereafter uses thestored information to determine the life pattern of the user of theportable terminal. If the state determination unit 104 stores thesensing information in the memory 106 in step 511, step 519 is skipped.

Additionally, if it is determined in step 509 that the sensinginformation that can be used to determine the state of the portableterminal does not exist, step 511 is skipped and step 513 is performed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of obtaining sensinginformation required to determine a state (or a life pattern of a user)of a portable terminal by a state determination unit according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the state determination unit 104 wakes up in step601, and then proceeding to step 603, controls the application processor102 to enter a sleep mode. Such a situation may be a case where theportable terminal enters an idle mode.

The state determination unit 104 allows the sensor 101 to operate instep 605, and allows the sensor 101 to obtain the sensing information instep 607.

In step 609, the state determination unit 104 determines whether thereis a change in the sensing information.

If it is determined in step 609 that the sensing information changes,proceeding to step 611, the state determination unit 104 determines astate of a portable terminal which is moving. In step 613, the statedetermination unit 104 stores the sensing information. Herein, the stateof the portable terminal which is moving is a state in which theportable terminal operates by user's manipulation. When the portableterminal repetitively moves, this operation is in association with thelife pattern of the user of the portable terminal.

Thereafter, the state determination unit 104 repeats the operation ofstep 607 to obtain sensing information required to analyze the lifepattern of the user of the portable terminal.

Otherwise, if it is determined in step 609 that the sensing informationdoes not change, proceeding to step 615, the state determination unit104 determines a state of the portable terminal which is not moving. Instep 617, the state determination unit 104 stops to store the sensinginformation.

In step 619, the state determination unit 104 determines whether thesensing information is stored in an internal memory of the statedetermination unit 104.

If it is determined in step 619 that the sensing information is storedin the memory 106 of the portable terminal instead of the internalmemory, the procedure of FIG. 6 ends.

Otherwise, if it is determined in step 619 that the sensing informationis stored in the internal memory of the state determination unit 104,proceeding to step 621, the state determination unit 104 reports theexistence of the stored sensing information to the application processor102 before entering a sleep mode, and thereafter transmits the storedsensing information to the application processor 102. In this case, thestate determination unit 104 can delete the sensing informationtransmitted to the application processor 102 so as to ensure a storagespace.

Thereafter, the procedure of FIG. 6 ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining a state (ora life pattern of a user) of a portable terminal by an applicationprocessor according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the application processor 102 wakes up in step 701when the portable terminal escapes from an idle state. In step 703, theapplication processor 102 determines whether sensing information storedby the state determination unit 104 exists. In this case, if the statedetermination unit 104 stores sensing information in its internalmemory, the state determination unit 104 transmits informationindicating the existence of the stored sensing information to theapplication processor 102 before entering a sleep mode.

If it is determined in step 703 that the sensing information stored bythe state determination unit 104 exists, proceeding to step 705, theapplication processor 102 receives the sensing information from thestate determination unit 104. In step 707, the application processor 102stores the sensing information received from the state determinationunit 104 in the internal memory 106 of the portable terminal. That is,the application processor 102 may move the sensing information stored inthe memory of the state determination unit 104 to the internal memory106 of the portable terminal so as to periodically determine the lifepattern of the user of the portable terminal. The state determinationunit 104 and the application processor 102 may exchange the sensinginformation by using a pre-defined protocol (i.e., UART, I2C, memoryinterface, etc.).

In step 709, the application processor 102 analyzes the life pattern ofthe user of the portable terminal by using the pre-stored sensinginformation. If the application processor 102 determines in step 703that there is no sensing information stored by the state determinationunit 104 (i.e., if the state determination unit 104 directly stores thesensing information in the internal memory 106 of the portable terminalinstead of its own memory), the procedure proceeds to step 709.

In step 711, the application processor 102 performs an operationcorresponding to the life pattern of the user. Then, the procedure ofFIG. 7 ends.

The following operations can be performed by a portable terminal fordetermining a life pattern according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. First, if the portable terminal does not operatefor a specific time duration and thus enters an idle state, theapplication processor 102 enters a sleep state and thus does not controlrespective modules. Additionally, when the portable terminal enters theidle state, the state determination unit 104 wakes up and obtainssensing information by using a sensor so as to examine a change in thesensing information. Of course, in a case where the state determinationunit 104 allows the application processor 102 in the sleep state to wakeup by using the sensing information, the state determination unit 104enters the sleep state and thereafter allows the application processor102 to wake up.

In a case where a value of the sensing information changes significantlyand thus it is determined as sensing information that can be used todetermine the life pattern of the user of the portable terminal eventhough the state determination unit 104 does not allow the applicationprocessor 102 to wake up, the sensing information is stored so that thestored sensing information is used when the life pattern is determined.

For example, if the state determination unit 104 determines that a valueof an acceleration sensor changes significantly and that a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) position changes persistently, the statedetermination unit 104 determines the life pattern indicating a movementof the user and periodically stores location/speed/time data. In thiscase, if the value of the acceleration sensor does no longed change, thestate determination unit 104 determines the life pattern as the userdoes not move, and stops to store the data.

The application processor 102 analyzes the stored data so as to be ableto determine a life pattern indicating a specific pattern frequentlyused by the user. After analyzing the life pattern, the applicationprocessor 102 can receive in advance traffic information of a path whichis expected to be used by the user to go to work.

Additionally, when the application processor 102 analyzes data obtainedby receiving a telephone call on a bus way home, and recognizesinformation indicating that the user is on way home, then theapplication processor 102 can perform tasks such as opening a garagedoor and operating a boiler by using home networking according to anexpected time of arrival.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, anapparatus and method for reducing power consumption generated in an idlestate in order to solve a power consumption problem in a portableterminal are provided. When the portable terminal enters the idle state,a state determination unit using low power is allowed to determine astate of the portable terminal and thereafter an application processoris allowed to wake up, so as to solve the conventional power consumptionproblem that occurs when the portable terminal is in the idle state.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detaileddescription of the invention but by the appended claims and theirequivalents, and all differences within the scope will be construed asbeing included in the present invention.

1.-22. (canceled)
 23. A portable terminal comprising: a memory; one ormore sensors; an application processor configured to controlapplications; and a sensor processor configured to: control the one ormore sensors to obtain sensing information, control the memory to storethe sensing information in the memory while the application processor isin a sleep state, and send a notification to the application processor,wherein, the application processor is further configured to obtain atleast a portion of the stored sensing information from the memory basedon the notification.
 24. The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein thesensing information is for determining a movement of a user of theportable terminal.
 25. The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein theone or more sensors comprise at least one of an acceleration sensor, agyro sensor, a terrestrial magnetism sensor, a proximity sensor, and anambient light sensor.
 26. The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein thenotification indicates existence of the sensing information stored inthe memory.
 27. The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein theapplication processor is further configured to, after having transitedfrom the sleep state to an operate state, analyze the at least theportion of the sensing information to determine a life pattern of a userof the portable terminal.
 28. The portable terminal of claim 23, whereinthe one or more sensors comprise a global positioning system (GPS),wherein the sensor processor is configured to control the memory toaccumulate and store a location and speed of a user on a periodic basiswhile the application processor is in the sleep state, and wherein dataof the location is transmitted to the application processor when theapplication processor is configured to transit from the sleep state toan operate state.
 29. The portable terminal of claim 28, wherein theapplication processor is further configured to receive trafficinformation of a path that is expected to be used by a user, based onthe data of the location.
 30. The portable terminal of claim 28, whereinthe application processor is further configured to operate a garage doorof a user's house, using the transmitted data of the location.
 11. Theportable terminal of claim 28, wherein the application processor isfurther configured to operate a heating system of a user's house, basedon an expected arrival time calculated by the location and speed. 32.The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein the one or more sensorscomprise at least one of a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor,and wherein the sensing information received from the at least one ofthe proximity sensor and the ambient light sensor is used to determinewhether the portable terminal is turned over.
 33. The portable terminalof claim 27, wherein the life pattern of the user of the portableterminal is determined based on the obtained sensing information. 34.The portable terminal of claim 33, wherein the application processor isfurther configured to perform an appropriate service corresponding tothe determined life pattern.
 35. A method of a portable terminal, themethod comprising: controlling, at a sensor processor, one or moresensors to obtain sensing information; controlling, at the sensorprocessor, a memory to store the sensing information in the memory; andsending, at the sensor processor, a notification to an applicationprocessor, wherein, the application processor obtains at least a portionof the stored sensing information from the memory based on thenotification.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the sensinginformation is for determining a movement of a user of the portableterminal.
 37. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more sensorscomprise at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, aterrestrial magnetism sensor, a proximity sensor, and an ambient lightsensor.
 38. The method of claim 35, wherein the notification indicatesexistence of the sensing information stored in the memory.
 39. Themethod of claim 35, wherein the application processor analyzes theobtained sensing information to determine a life pattern of a user ofthe portable terminal after having transited from a sleep state to anoperate state.
 40. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or moresensors comprise a global positioning system (GPS), wherein the sensorprocessor controls the memory to accumulate and stores a location andspeed of a user on a periodic basis while the application processor isin a sleep state, and wherein data of the location is transmitted to theapplication processor when the application processor has transited fromthe sleep state to an operate state.
 41. The method of claim 35, whereinthe application processor receives traffic information of a path that isexpected to be used by a user, based on the data of the location. 42.The method of claim 40, wherein the application processor operates agarage door of a user house, using the transmitted data of the location.43. The method of claim 42, wherein the application processor operates aheating system of a user's house, based on an expected arrival timecalculated by the data of the location and speed.
 44. The method ofclaim 39, further comprising: determining a life pattern of a user ofthe portable terminal based on the obtained sensing information.
 45. Themethod of claim 44, wherein the application processor performs anappropriate service corresponding to the determined life pattern. 46.The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more sensors comprise atleast one of a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor, and whereinat least one physical value received from the at least one of theproximity sensor and the ambient light sensor determines whether theportable terminal is turned over.
 47. A portable terminal comprising: amemory; one or more sensors; an application processor configured toexecute program code for applications; and a sensor processor configuredto: control the one or more sensors to obtain sensing information;control the memory to store sensing information in the memory; and senda notification to the application processor, wherein, the applicationprocessor is further configured to obtain at least a portion of sensinginformation stored while the application processor is in a sleep statefrom the memory based on the notification.
 48. The portable terminal ofclaim 47, wherein the notification is sent to the application processorwhile the application processor is in the sleep state.
 49. A method of aportable terminal, the method comprising: controlling, at a sensorprocessor, one or more sensors to obtain sensing information;controlling, at the sensor processor, a memory to store the sensinginformation in the memory; and sending, at the sensor processor, anotification to an application processor, wherein the applicationprocessor obtains at least a portion of sensing information stored whilethe application processor is in a sleep state from the memory based onthe notification.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the notificationis sent to the application processor while the application processor isin the sleep state.